When I first booked my ticket to South Korea, I’ll admit—I was mostly thinking about spicy tteokbokki, pastel-colored cafes, and the slim chance I’d bump into a K-drama actor. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the country would pull me in, with its perfect mix of ancient serenity and neon-fueled chaos.
Seoul – A City That Doesn’t Sleep (And Doesn’t Want You To, Either)
I landed in Seoul on a rainy afternoon, which felt weirdly cinematic in itself. From the moment I stepped into Hongdae, I felt the energy—street performers dancing under umbrellas, cafes playing lo-fi music, and locals dressed in fashion-forward layers like they were born for Vogue.
I stayed in a tiny guesthouse tucked behind a convenience store, run by a sweet halmeoni (grandma) who insisted I try her homemade kimchi before I did anything else. It was fiery, sour, and unlike any restaurant kimchi I’ve ever tasted. That set the tone: Korea is always a little more intense, a little more generous, and a lot more layered than you expect.
Temples in the Mountains – The Quiet Side of Korea
After a few days in the city, I took a train to Gyeongju, the ancient capital. It’s quieter, slower, and full of golden relics from Korea’s Silla dynasty. I biked through fields of royal tombs, passed by stone pagodas, and hiked up to Bulguksa Temple just as the sun hit the golden Buddhas. There’s something about Korean temples—how they blend into the trees, how you can hear wind chimes and monks chanting in the distance—that makes you slow down and listen.
One of my favorite moments was spending a night in a temple stay program. I slept on a heated floor, woke up at 4 a.m. to the sound of a gong, and joined a silent meditation under a canopy of stars. It wasn’t just peaceful—it was humbling.
Jeonju – Bibimbap and Beyond
If you’re going to eat your way through Korea (and you should), you must go to Jeonju. It’s the birthplace of bibimbap, but it’s also a city that seems to revolve around food. I spent an entire afternoon wandering the hanok village, sampling chestnut makgeolli (rice wine), grilled skewers, and mochi-stuffed strawberries from vendors in hanbok.
It was also in Jeonju where I met a couple my age who invited me to join them for karaoke. I can now proudly say I’ve sung “Dynamite” in a noraebang after three shots of soju—and I have no regrets.
Nature’s Hidden Gems – The East Coast & Beyond
Busan was my final stop, and it felt like Korea’s laid-back cousin. I hiked along the coast at Taejongdae, stood in awe at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple perched on the rocks, and watched the sunset from Haeundae Beach with fried chicken in hand. It’s hard to beat that.
But my favorite escape was Sokcho, near Seoraksan National Park. The fall leaves had just started to turn when I hiked Ulsanbawi Rock—every step was grueling, but the view at the top was worth every drop of sweat. You look out and see layers of jagged peaks and mist curling like ink in water. Korea’s nature isn’t always talked about, but it should be.
Final Thoughts
Korea surprised me. It wasn’t just a country of skincare, K-pop, and bustling cities—it was a place of quiet temples, mountain air, heartfelt conversations (even when language was a barrier), and moments that made me feel both tiny and totally alive.
If you ever get the chance to go, don’t just follow the guidebook. Get lost a little. Eat something you can’t pronounce. Smile at strangers. Korea will meet you there—with spice, serenity, and a story you didn’t know you were waiting to live.